Treadle-controlling mechanism



Oct. 21. 1924. 1,512,587

J. S. FINCH TREADLE CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 12. 1921 ATTORNEYPatented Oct. 21, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. FINCH, OF BEIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGER MANU-FACTURING COMPANY, OF ELTZABE-TH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

TREADLE-CONTROLLING MECHANISIVI.

Application filed September 12, 1921.

T all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN S. FINoH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTreadle Controlling Mechanisms. of which the fol lowing is aspecification, reference beinghao therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements i1. manually manipulatedmechanisms or de vices and is particularly adapted 'for use withtreadle-operated stapling machines.

In stapling machines which are manually operated, such as for instancethe buttonstapling machine disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 1,36%,264,dated January 4:, 1921, it is possible to cause jamming of the machineand breakage of parts thereof by inadvertent- 1y endeavoring to set morethan one staple at a time. This condition occurs particularly when outof curiosity unauthorized persons actuate the machine treadlesufficiently far to cause formation or partial formation of a staple andthen release the treadle. The parts then immediately return to initialposition with the partially or entirely formed staple in the machine. Asucceeding operation of the machine will form another staple and inendeavoring to set this staple there is great likelihood of breaking orjamming the machine by the two formed staples.

The present invention has for an object to obviate the stated conditionby providing in stapling machines simple means for preventing theformation of a staple while a partially or wholly formed staple is inthe machine.

The invention has for another object to provide an improved device forpreventing retrograde movement of an actuated element betweenpredetermined limits of movement of the latter.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a treadle mechanism,a simple and effective locking device for maintaining the position of atreadle-actuated element attained by an actuation of the treadle in onedirection.

A still further object of the invention is to provide automatic meansfor releasing the actuated element from the effective ac- Serial No.499,967.

tion of the locking device after a predetermined extent of actuation ofthe treadle.

The invention has also for its object to provide means for maintainingthe released position of the locking device during return movement ofthe treadle, together with means for again rendering the locking deviceefi'ective.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription and claims.

In attaining the objects of the invention, the present improvement hasbeen embodied, in commercial form, in the button-stapling machineforming the subject of my prior Patent No. 1,3642% to Which'referencehas hereinbefore been made. This machine like many others of its kind istreadle-actuated to cause operation of the button-feeding, Wire-feeding,staple-forming and stapleclinching or setting devices, the treadletogether with the parts actuated thereby being returned to initialposition by means of a spring. In order to prevent effective action ofthe spring before the treadle has 7 completed a predetermined extent ofmovement in one direction, there is provided in the machine of thepresent application a locking device acting automatically to preventretrograde movement of the treadle.

This locking device consists of a cammember pivotally supported by anadjustable fulcrum provided on a cross-head slidingly sustained by thetreadle-standard. The cam-member is yieldingly urged into position toengage the treadle-actuated rod, which is connected with the main-shaftof the machine. The engagement between the cam-member and thetreadle-rod is such that when the treadle is depressed the active faceof the cam-member releases its grip upon the rod, but immediatelyresumes its grip upon the latter when the treadle-returning spring seeksto raise the treadle upon release of the latter before completion of itsstroke. Collars are adjustably secured upon the treadle-actuated rodupon opposite sides of the locking device. The upper collar approachesthe locking device during the de pression of the treadle and acts upon arelease-device which transmits the pressure of the collar to thecam-member and releases the latter from effective engagement with thetreadle-rod at the completion oi the down-stroke of the latter. Therelease-device is yieldingly maintained in this position, therebyholding the cam-member out of efiective action, while the treadle-springreturns the treadle to initial position. At this time the other collarupon the treadlerod becomes effective upon the release-device todisplace it from its holding relation "'ith the cam-member, therebypermitting the latter to resume its gripping action on the treadle-rod.It will therefore be seen that the treadle will be automaticallymaintained in any position in which it is depressed between thepredetermined limits of its move ment and that consequently it isimpossible to form two staples without completing the setting of eachstaple after itis termed.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially insection, of a button-stapling machine embodying the present improvement.Fig. 2 is a sectional view substantially on the line 0;00 of Fig. 1.Fig. is a perspective view 01 the staple forming and setting devices.Fig. 1 is a detail perspective view of the staple-setting device. Fig.is a front end elevation of a portion of the treadle standard containingthe locking device.

Referring to the drawings, the buttoir stapling machineillustratedtherein is substantially the same as that of my prior Patent No.1,36%,264 before mentioned and as reference may be made to this patent.for a complete understanding of the machine, only such illustration hasbeen made as is deemed essential for a proper understanding of theapplication of the invention to this machine.

The machine is supported by a base 1 from 'which rises the tubulartreadle-standard 2,

sustaining at its upper end the machine-supporting table 3. Mounted uponthe table 8 is the button-stapling machine including a supporting frame4 in which is journalcd a main or actuating shaft 5. Secured upon theactuating shaft 5 is the triangular rocklever 6 pivota ly connected withthe upper end oi the treadle actuated rod 7, movable endwise in thestandard 2 and connected its lower end with the operatingtreadle 8,fulcrumed at 9 upon the base 1. The treadle 8 has a predetermined extentof movement betweentwo adjustable screws as 10 and 10 and is yieldinglyurged to engage the screw 10 by means of the spring 11 connected one endto the treadle 8 and at its opposite end to a collar 12 suitably securedupon the standard 2.

The triangular rock-lever 6 is connected by means'ot a link 13 with theupper end of the slide-plate 14 guided for end- Wise movements insuitable ways provided in the machine frame. Secured upon the slideplate14 by means of screws as 15, and a tongue 16 and groove 17 connection isthe staple-setting plate 18. Guided by the ribs 19 of the staple-settingplate 16 is the wire-- severing and staple-forming bar 20 capable ofmovement with and also relative to the slide-plate ll. The bar 20terminates in :1 rearwardly extending rod ll projecting through asuitable aperture lormml in the guide-plate 22 suitably secured upon theslide-plate 1%. The rod 21 is embraced by a coiled spring 23 bearing atone end against the guide-plate 22 and at its opposite end on a suitableshoulder provided on the bar 20 whereby the latter is yicldingly urgedto assume its advanced position with respect to the slide-plate 14-. Thebar 20 is main tained in this advanced position by menus of a pawl 24,carrying a roller 25 and adapted to be released by a suitable cam (notshown) at the desired moment.

It. will be understood that when the treudlc 8 is depressed, itsmovement is communicated to the rod '2' thereby rocking the lever 6 toadvance the slide-plate 14!. During the first part of the movement ofthe slide-plan 1a, the staple-setting plate 18 secured thereto and thestaple-iorming bar 20 slidubly mounted thereon are advanced as a unit byreason of. the holding action of the pawl :14. This advancing movementcauses lhv cullcn plate 26 carried by the bar 2-0 to sever suit-- ablelength of wire which is then formed into a staple by the advance end ofthe bar ill. At the proper time the pawl Ell is tripped out oiengagei'nent with the bar 20 so that the staple-setting plate 18 mayadvance rclativethereto and act to clinch the Maple against the anvil2T. \Vhilc the operation and mechanisn'i of forming and clinching" thestaple has been. herein drscribed in :1 general way. it is to beunderstood lhul lhr particular term of this mechanism is lln-- materialas it will be evident lhal lln invmz tion is applicable to a largevariety of voustructions of; machines.

It the treadle S is rmrlially de 'n'essnd. wire is severed and a staplepartially or wholly formed. hen the lrcudlo is rcleascd after thispartial operatitm. the par tially or wholly formed staple remains in themachine while the SlllIltrlIlll! 11 resumes its initial position underthe action of the spr ng 11. hen the treadle 8 is again dep rd. a secondwire is severed and formed into staple, the effort of clinching t latterstaple rendering possibl l; ring of ma.- chine parts or jun-inning otthe lln'l flllllt by reason of the staple previously Formal l e ingstill in the machine.

Referring now more purlicu arly o the details of construction cl? theprcs-rul nrnution, the standard is formed with dianetrically oppositeapertures in which is inserted a cross-head This cross ..:id is formedwith an enlarged head 2: and is loo formed with a central, vertical slot30. Lo cated in this slot is a cam-member 31 in the form of abellcrank-lever fulcrumed upon an eccentric portion 32 of a fulcrum-pin33 secured upon the head 29 by means of the set-screw 34. One arm of thebellcrank lever 31 is provided with a socketed boss 35 entered by aplunger 36. The plunger 36 engages the standard 2 and is acted upon by aspring 37 within the socket of the boss 35 to cause a rocking action ofthe bellcranklever 31 so that an arcuate cam-face 38 of the other arm ofthe latter is caused to engage the treadle-rod 7. This cam-face 38 is soarranged with respect to the fulcrum that a downward movement of thetreadle 7 swings the bellcrank-lever 31 upon its ful crum to release itsgripping action upon the rod 7. leased at any point between its limitsof movement determined by the screws 10 and 10, the spring 11 tends tomove the rod 7 upwardly, thereby swinging the bellcranklever 31 in areverse direction and causing a practically instantaneous grip upon thetreadle-rod 7 to prevent upward movement of the latter.

It is essential, however, that this gripping action be released when thetreadle reaches its limit of downward movement.

To this end there is provided a release-dc vice comprising a disk 39loosely embracing the treadle-rod 7and from which disk depends atrip-rod 40 passing through an aperture in the cross-head 28. Thetrip-rod 40 intersects a socket 41 formed longitudinally in thecross-head 28, in which socket is located a coiled spring 42 interposedbe tween an adjustable set-screw 43, threaded into the cross-head 28,and the rod 40. Secured upon the treadle-rod 7, upon opposite sides ofthe locking device, are adjustable collars 44 and 45. As the treadle 8is depressed, the upper collar 44 approaches the disk 39 which isnormally maintained in position by means of the spring 42 and as thetreadle reaches the lower limit of its movement, the collar 44 acts uponthe disk 39 which transmits this action upon the cam end of thebellcrank-lever 31 thereby slightly rocking the latter and causing it todisengage the treadle-rod 7. The latter is now free to respond to theaction of the spring 11 by reason of the fact that the spring 42 throughits action upon the rod 40 maintains the cam-member in disengagedposition. However, as the treadle reaches its upper limit of movement,the collar 45 engages the lower end of the rod 40 thereb releasing thecam-memberfrom the action of the disk 39 whereupon the treadle-rod 7 ispromptly gripped by the cam of the rocking member.

By reason of the adjustability of the screws 10 and 10, together withthe adjusta- However, when the treadle 8 is rebility of the collars 44and 45 it is possi ble to alter the stroke of the treadle 8 tocorrespond with the Work in hand. Further, by reason of the adjustmentafforded by the. eccentric-fulcrum 32, the correct operative position ofthe cam-member may be readily obtained. It is evident that the lockingdevice disclosed herein may be employed in connection with a largevariety of machines, and particularly for preventing retrograde movementof an actuated element at any point between predetermined limits ofmovement of such element.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim hereinis l. A device for preventing retrograde movement of an actuatedelement, comprisr ing a cam-member, a spring yieldingly urging saidcam-member to engage said element to permit movement of the latter inone direction and prevent movement in the opposite direction, aca1nmember release-device, means efiective at a predetermined point inthe movement of said element to shift said release-device to transmit areleasing movement to said cam-men'iber, and yielding means independentof said cam-member for maintaining the cam-member release position ofthe release-device during the return movement of the element.

2. A device for preventing retrograde movement of an actuated element,comprising a cam-member, a spring yieldingly urging said cam-member toengage said element to permit movement of the latter in one directionand prevent movement in the opposite direction, a cam-memberreleasedevice, means effective at a predetermined point in the movementof said element to shift said release-device to transmit a releasingmovement to said cam-member, yielding means independent of saidcammember for maintaining the cam-men'iber release position of therelease-device during the return movement of the elen'ient, and meansfor shifting said release-device in the opposite direction at apredetermined point in the return movement of the element.

3. A device for preventing retrograde movement of an element betweendetermined limits of movement, comprising a support, a cam-membersustained by said support, means yieldingly urging said cam-member toengage the element to permit movement thereof in one direction andprevent retrograde movement'; adjustable means carried by said elementfor determining a release position of said cam-member, a shiftablerelease-device interposed between the cammember and said adjustablemeans for transmitting a release movement to the cammember, and yieldingmeans independent of said cam-member "for maintaining the release-devicein canrmember releasing position. 3

4. A device for preventing retrograde movement of an actuated elementbetween predetermined limits ofmovement of the latter, comprising asupport, a pivotal cam-' member fulcrumed upon said support, meansyieldingly urging said cam-member into position to lock said elementagainst retrograde motion, a cam-member release-device, means forrendering said release device effective at one of the movement limits,and a spring for yieldingly maintaining the release position of saidrelease-device effective against the action of the cam-member yieldingmeans for a predetermined extent of return movement of said element.

5; A device for preventing retrograde movement of an actuated elementbetween predetermined limits of movement of the latter, comprising asupport, a cam-member, an adjustable eceentrically journaled fulcrum forsaid cammember upon said support, means yieldingly urging said cammemberinto position to lock said element against retrograde movement, acam-member release-device, means for rendering said release-deviceeffective at one o't' the movement limits, and means for yieldinglymaintaining the release position of said release-device effective for apredetermined extent of return movement of said element.

6. A device for preventing retrograde movement of an actuated elementbetween predetermined limits of movement of the latter, comprising asupport, a cam-member, an adjustable eccentrically journaled fulcrum forsaid cam-member upon said support, means yieldingly urging saidcammember into position to lock said element against retrogrademovement, a cam-member release-device, means for rendering saidrelease-device effective at one of the move ment limits, and means forrestoring the effective action of said cam-member upon said elementduring a return movement of the element.

7. A device for preventing retrograde movement of an actuated elementbetween predetermined limits of movement of the latter, comprising asupport, a cam-member, an eccentric fulcrum upon said support for saidcam-member, a spring yieldingly urging said cam-member to engage theactuated element to permit movement of the latter in one direction andprevent movement in the opposite direction, a cam-member release-devicedisposed in proximity to said cam-member, adjustable means carried bysaid element upon opposite sides of said cam-member adapted to engagethe releasedevice upon movement of the element in opposite directions torelease and restore the effective action ofsa-id cam-element, and

a spring for maintaining the release device in the positions into whichit is shifted by said adjustable means.

8. The combination with a treadle mechanism comprising a treadlestandard, a treadle-lever, and a treadle-lever actuated element, of across-head sustained by said standard and provided with an apertureslidingly entered by said. element, a cam member fulcrumed upon saidcross-head, a spring yieldingly urging said am-member to engage sa-idelement to permit movement of the latter in one direction and preventmovement in the opposite direction, a release-device yieldingly heldagainst movement with said actuated element, and collars secured uponsaid element on opposite sides of said release-device for shifting thelatter to release and restore the effective action of said cam-member.

9. The combination with a treadle mechanism comprising a treadlestandard, a treadle-lever, and a treadle-lever actuated element, of across-head sustained by said standard and provided with an apertureslidingly entered by said element, a cammember fulcrumed upon saidcmss-head. a spring yieldingly urging said cam-member to engage saidelement to permit movement of the latter in one direction and preventmovement in the opposite direction, a release-device, a spring sustainedby said cross-head to yieldingly hold said releasedevice againstmovement with said actuated element, means for adjusting the pressureexerted by said spring, and collars secured upon said element onopposite sides of said release-device for shifting the latter to releaseand restore the effective action of said cam-member.

10. The combination with a treadlc mechanism comprising atreadle-standard. a treadle-lever, and a treadledcver actuated element,of a cross-head sustained by said standard and provided with an apertureslidingly entered by said element, a cammember fulcrumed upon saidcross-head, a spring yieldingly urging said cam-member to engage saidelement to permit movement of the latter in one direction and preventmovement in the opposite direction, a release-device comprising a headedtrip-rod slidin ly sustained by said cross-head means for yieldinglyholding said releasedevice against movement with said actuated element,and means for shifting said release device to release and restore theeffective action of said cam-member.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN S. FINCH.

